Who Runs Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger Now? Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Update

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 2, Episode 12 Aired January 21, 2008

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visited Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, a build-your-own burger stand in Ann Arbor, Michigan billed as the city's oldest hamburger stand since 1953, for its griddled burgers and fried onion rings during the episode "Burgers, Rings and Fries," which aired 2008-01-21. Click On Detroit reported on 2026-03-17 that the restaurant temporarily closed amid a change in ownership, and WEMU-FM reported on 2026-03-18 that the closure was for renovations as the ownership transfer finalized. Both outlets identified the new owners as Pete Levin, known for Ann Arbor's Joe's Pizza and Bo's Bagels, and Doug Botsford, a longtime Ann Arbor resident, who plan to modernize the space while keeping the grill, staff, and existing artwork. As of a September 2026 site check, the business's website described itself as in its "Next Chapter" and indicated it was temporarily closed pending reopening.

Food Paradise, Season 4, Episode 2 Aired 2012

The 2012 episode "Hamburger Paradise 2: The Double-Decker" featured Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, an Ann Arbor institution known for cooking thin, made-to-order beef patties to a customer's exact specifications on a griddle behind the counter, according to Wikipedia. Founded in 1953, the fast-food burger stand became known for combinations like its bacon-and-egg "Elvis" burger and fried onion rings. The restaurant's own website, still online at blimpyburger.com, carries a 2018 copyright and a "Next Chapter" notice describing the business as pausing operations, the most recent dated information available for the location as of a check on 2026-09-08.

Man v. Food, Season 3, Episode 20 Aired October 20, 2010

Man v. Food's Ann Arbor episode (S3E20, aired 2010-10-20) featured Blimpy Burger, the thin-patty burger stand known locally as Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. According to Wikipedia (revised 2026-08-06), it is a fast-food restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, known for its burgers and fried onion rings, operating since 1953 at 304 S. Ashley Street. The restaurant's website, blimpyburger.com, currently displays a page titled 'Next Chapter' with a 2018 copyright date and a note about the business 'hibernating,' rather than current hours or ordering information. A Google Places listing checked 2026-09-08 lists the business as temporarily closed. This appearance is logged against the existing Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger record rather than as a separate business, since the show's segment and the long-running Ashley Street burger stand are the same establishment.